Sony A9 mirrorless camera makes its way to the Philippines

If you want an all-around full-frame mirrorless camera in the smallest package possible, you go for the Sony A7 series. But what if you need more speed — something really fast? You’d have to save up a lot, because the A9 is the next level, but it comes at a heavy cost.

Beginning July 1, Sony Philippines is offering its latest mirrorless camera, the A9, for — get this — PhP 239,999! That’s just a little over the base price of $4,500 in the US. But what sort of technical wizardry justifies such a price tag?

Any serious photographer must already be familiar with the power backing this beast and can stop reading here, but for the less informed, get ready for a large dose of numbers.

The A9 prides itself in having the first full-frame stacked CMOS image sensor. Already confused? Let me explain: By having additional layers of circuitry on the sensor, the A9 can handle image processing and delivery to the memory much faster. It basically allows the system to skip steps in getting the photos to your display.

This leads to a blistering burst of 20 frames per second (FPS) while still being able to autofocus. That’s just four FPS short of cinema-level videos (24fps), so it’s almost like shooting a movie with each frame at a full resolution of 24.2 megapixels! Process that for a moment with your non-stacked brain.

And since this is a mirrorless camera as clearly shown in the photo above, there’s no mirror slapping involved like on a traditional DSLR, meaning there are no distracting and potentially image-ruining vibrations to endure while shooting at max speed.

Sony’s excellent 5-axis image stabilization is once again built in, just in case your hands are too unworthy to handle this monster. And if you’re still unconvinced to splurge on an A9, realize that there’s a grand total of 693 autofocus points covering a remarkable 93 percent of the viewfinder. No cat, dog, or unruly child is going to escape the A9’s sights.

If all else fails, you have an ISO range of 100 to 51200 (expandable from 50 to 204800) to play with, ensuring you’ll always have enough light entering your shots no matter how difficult the lighting situation gets.

My A7 II suddenly looks really stale, but I’m sure owners of every other camera feel the same. That’s how far mirrorless interchangeable-lens cameras have come, and the A9 is leading the charge like no other.

DJI Osmo Pocket first look

It feels like we’re already in the future as DJI just announced the Osmo Pocket. It’s their smallest handheld camera which literally fits all sorts of pockets. However, being small doesn’t mean it’s terrible. It can shoot videos up to 4K at 60 frames per second.

It has a three-axis gimbal that reduces shakes and jitters plus it has an extension rod that makes taking selfies a breeze. It’s also featured-filled!

It has facetrack technology which focuses on your face while activetrack focuses on any moving subject; FPV mode follows fast-moving shots. Lastly, there’s motionlapse that captures better timelapses and can take your videos to another level. It can also stitch together images with 3×3 panorama and take great low-light photos with nightshots.

If you like to go to the beach, the Osmo Pocket can come with you thanks to a waterproof case. It’s definitely the ultimate travel camera!

Her Holiday Gift Guide: Presents for the different types of women in your life

May it be a sister, a mother, a friend, or a lover, this holiday season is the perfect time to appreciate the women in your life. But, different women have different needs so I’ve rounded up a number of great gift ideas and the type of ladies they’d be perfect for.

You’re welcome.

For the skincare lover

Something to pamper her with! The Foreo UFO offers a home facial mask treatment like no other. Great skin has never been this attainable! This tiny thing is capable of LED light therapy, thermotherapy, and cryotherapy. There are also a number of great face sheets to choose from.

For the fitness buff

For those who aspire for a healthier life, the Fitbit Versa is the perfect gift. Doing what Fitbit does best, the Versa tracks all your health data plus it has smartwatch capabilities! It comes in rose gold and looks pretty with all the great-looking strap options.

For the stylish

Cutting-edge tech for hair styling comes in the form of Dyson’s Airwrap. It’s every girl’s mane dream (pun intended). This iron uses hot air and the British brand’s vacuum technology to make sure hair is curled and not damaged in the process. Oh, and it doesn’t only curl; there are different hair attachments for multiple hair types so you can achieve many looks.

For the sentimental

To help her capture priceless and fleeting moments, get her a Polaroid OneStep+. This pretty camera looks reminiscent of the original Polaroid OneStep; yes, it’s very pretty! Aside from taking great Polaroid photos, this instant camera can now connect to an app. Talk about added fun!

For the traveler

Make her feel safe and look good. Travelon anti-theft bags are perfect to bring on trips. Equipped with RFID-blocking tech, slash-proof material, and locking zippers, these are bags that will leave you with peace of mind without compromising your outfit.

For the homemaker

Make cleaning a breeze with Xiaomi’s Mi robot vacuum. This smart device will clean every inch of your home with a tap on your smartphone. With the Mi Home app, you’ll be able to check which areas the robot has vacuumed and you can even schedule cleaning sessions remotely. And no, this thing won’t fall down the stairs or run over your pets.

For the audiophile

iPods are not a thing anymore but this awesome music player is! The Mighty Music Player is a music streaming device — yes, that means you can listen to your Spotify sounds even without your phone. It comes in yummy colors, too.

For the woman on the go

These colorful Bluetooth earphones are not only wireless, but they’re also smart. Honor’s new Flypods look cool with the teal color option, plus it can answer calls, has wireless charging, and responds to touch control.

Tech for the strong, independent, and happily single woman

November 11, or 11.11, has been dubbed as Singles’ Day. While some may believe this to be a reminder of persistent loneliness and that dreaded single status, I believe otherwise. Singlehood is and should be a celebration of your independence. Being single is not necessarily a bad thing.

That being said, I’ve rounded up a number devices for the strong, independent, and happily single woman.

Google Pixel 3

In a sea of dual camera phones, the Pixel stands its ground with one shooter, proving that in a lot of instances, one is enough.

Sony H.ear On

To shut out the naysayers, and look good while doing so. Sony’s H.ear On headphones, aside from sounding amazing, are Bluetooth-enabled which means that you’re not tied to anything. If that isn’t symbolic, I don’t know what is.

GoPro Hero 7

To document your own adventures and tell your own story! With electronic image stabilization, your footage always comes out smooth AF. At least this camera is stable — more than I can say about those boys you dated.

Samsung Galaxy Watch

To remind you that it’s time to be your own woman and that you don’t and shouldn’t have time for other people’s crap. Consequently, it also looks cute and tells you the actual time.

Honda CR-V

So you can drive your own future! The CR-V is equipped with tech to make your drive a cinch. This thing will get you places.